Việt Nam, US advance bilateral trade talks in third round of negotiation

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reaffirmed the US’s strong regard for its relationship with Việt Nam and its hope to see the country continue to thrive.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên has had discussions on tariffs and broader trade cooperation with United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer during the third round of negotiations.

According to the previously agreed schedule, this third round for the bilateral reciprocal trade agreement between Việt Nam and the US took place from June 9-12 in Washington D.C. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Minister Nguyễn Hồng Diên in his capacity as Head of the Government’s Negotiation Team.

Over the course of four days, the two sides have made considerable progress, narrowing differences across all areas under discussion, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade's announcement on the outcomes released late Sunday night.

Talks were characterised by candid and constructive exchanges, particularly on matters raised in Việt Nam’s official response document previously submitted to the US side. Both delegations also took time to listen to each other’s analyses and reasoning to move towards mutually acceptable solutions.

The two sides also agreed to convene an online working-level meeting in the coming days to continue resolving outstanding issues and prepare for a virtual ministerial dialogue between Secretary Lutnick and Minister Diên.

On the final afternoon of technical-level negotiations, Minister Diên held a direct session with both Secretary Howard Lutnick and Ambassador Greer.

This marked the first time the US had initiated such a ministerial-level discussion in this format. Drawing from the four days of discussions, Minister Diên presented several proposals to accelerate the negotiation process and work towards substantive outcomes.

Both Secretary Lutnick and Ambassador Greer appreciated Việt Nam’s goodwill and efforts throughout the negotiations. They largely concurred with the proposals made by Minister Diên, viewing them as a strong foundation for the two sides to continue technical discussions and work towards a final agreement.

Following the joint meeting, Minister Diên held a separate bilateral discussion with Secretary Lutnick to clarify points raised during the plenary session.

Secretary Lutnick reaffirmed the US’s strong regard for its relationship with Việt Nam and its hope to see the country continue to thrive.

He acknowledged Việt Nam’s concerns and proposals and said the US Department of Commerce would coordinate with the USTR to consider appropriate approaches.

Minister Diên, in turn, welcomed the positive remarks from Secretary Lutnick and Ambassador Greer. He reiterated Việt Nam’s determination to build and strengthen a balanced and sustainable economic and trade relationship with the US, one that serves the interests of both nations’ peoples and businesses.

Both sides agreed to instruct their respective technical teams to maintain close communication, with the aim of reaching an agreement that aligns with each country’s expectations and national conditions.